High School Academic Year Program (AYP)

The most rewarding and most challenging program for teenagers who wish to study in the U.S. is the Academic Year and Semester Program.

To participate in this program, students must have very good English abilities, above average academic skills, and a lot of flexibility and maturity! Participants live with U.S. host families and attend public high schools, while improving their English, making friends and expanding their vision of the world and themselves.

Current CCI AYP students click here for the Greenheart Contest and Spring Break!

Program Includes:

• Enrollment in a U.S. public high school for one or two semesters
• Room and board with a volunteer host family
• Orientation after arrival in the U.S.
• Support and supervision of a local CCI Area Representative and CCI National Staff
• Periodic program evaluation
• Re-entry preparation session
• Health and accident insurance
• Airport transfers to nearest airport
• DS-2019 supporting application for J-1 visa
• Optional environmental conservation and community service project

Program Does Not Include

School fees, optional activities, meals and entertainment outside the homestay, personal expenses, international and domestic travel to the airport nearest the host family, lunch at school, and spending money. CCI does not guarantee that students will receive U.S. high school graduation certificates or diplomas or that they will be enrolled in the 12th grade.

Destinations
The CCI Academic Year and Semester Programs provide a cultural and educational experience and are not tourist programs. Therefore, homestay placements are determined by CCI and can be in any region in the U.S.

Program Requirements
Successful applicants must have:

• An acceptable score on the SLEP test of the English language
• Maintained the equivalent of at least a "C" grade average in the home country
• Have demonstrated openness, flexibility, above average maturity, and a sincere desire to participate in an intercultural program
• Be of good health, sufficient to succeed on an intellectually, physically and emotionally rigorous program
• Complete the application in full and provide all documentation required
• Be between 15 and 18 years of age upon arrival
• Not have graduated from high school in the home country
• Be willing to accept placement anywhere in the continental U.S.

Application Deadlines
Applicants should submit applications to CCI cooperating sending offices in their home countries prior to the deadlines below: (All deadlines subject to change.)

• Programs beginning in August: April 1
• Programs beginning in January: October 1

Click here to find out how you can become an AYP student!